Bear Warrior Help - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Bear Warrior Help

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
maldur_dup
Aug 04, 2009 2:17:09 Hello, CO boards! I'm building a goliath Barbarian/Bear Warrior. I'm using the goliath sub-level for Mountainous Rage, Skilled City dweller to get Tumble and Gather Information onto my skill list, and 2 flaws. I have access to all books and most magazines.

On a related note, I have a question about Mountain Rage and Bear Form. Mountain Rage increases the Barbarian's size to large. Would it increase the size of the Bear Form as well?

Any criticism and/or input will be appreciated.
#2
cru
Aug 04, 2009 3:09:32 Bear form is based on polymorph.

If I read this correctly, polymorph makes you lose your original race's abilities (powerful build). You'd retain your class abilities (get large in rage) though.

RoS: Goliath Barbarian: When he rages, his size category increases to Large.

CW: As normal for polymorph, the bear warrior gains the bear form’s physical qualities (including size, ...)

CW: ability score bonuses granted by rage or frenzy are replaced by Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution bonuses appropriate to the bear form taken

Normal black bear form is medium, gaining 8 Str, 2 Dex, 4 Con.
Your black bear form should be large, gaining the same stats (no extra +2 Str).

Brown bears and dire bears are both large. You won't have powerful build and your size will not increase. Brown and dire bear forms grant the same bonuses to goliath and non-goliath.
#3
maldur_dup
Aug 04, 2009 3:57:40 Thanks for the reply. If what you said is true (and it looks like it is) then maybe bear warrior isn't the way to go for this character. Instead, I could use another PrC that I've been wanting to try: the Totem Rager. Granted, this would be my first step into incarnum, though I've read it over a few times. Would this be a better choice than Bear Warrior?
#4
dragonson
Aug 04, 2009 11:18:53 Bear Warrior is a good PrC for Barbarians, but if you want to stay Large, with Powerful Build, then it probably isn't the way to go.

Totem Rager would probably net you a bit more versatility in combat (thanks to the wide variety of Totemist soulmelds). Is there a particular focus for your character (tripping, grappling, etc.)? Since there are several soulmelds that enhance abilities like those... Girallon Arms for grappling, Worg Pelt with Behir Gorget or Ankheg Breastplate for tripping...

If you go that route, you should also decide whether you want to focus more on the Barbarian or the Totemist (Double Totem Bind is fun).

What is your current state (level, ability scores, feats)? The more we know, the more we can help.
#5
maldur_dup
Aug 04, 2009 13:57:20 I'll be starting at lvl 1. I was originally planning to stick with Barbarian, but I'd have to agree, totemist does look fun. Ability scores were rolled, and mine were pretty darn good. Here they are with racial bonuses:

STR 22
DEX 16
CON 19
INT 16
WIS 16
CHA 16

As for feats, the only one that is really set in stone is Power Attack. Well, that and Cobalt Rage, for Totem Rager. That leaves one more feat at level 1, thanks to flaws. Originally, I was planning on a charging build, but that can be changed. I think I'd have to look over the Totemist soulmelds more before I decide on what exactly I'll be doing.
#6
maldur_dup
Aug 05, 2009 2:16:51 Ok, here's my build so far, using the Mountain Rage sub-level and 2 flaws. Its not much yet, but at least i've got something.

Goliath Barbarian 2/Totemist 1/Bar +2/Tot +2/Totem Rager 10/XX 3

Bar 1: Power Attack, Cobalt Rage (flaw), Cobalt Charge (flaw)
Bar 2/Tot 1: Bonus Essentia
Bar 4/Tot 2: Leap Attack
Bar 4/Tot 3/TR 2: [open feat]
Bar 4/Tot 3/TR 5: [open feat]
Bar 4/Tot 3/TR 8: [open feat]
Bar 4/Tot 3/TR 10/XX 1: [open feat]
#7
Koenig
Aug 05, 2009 3:05:51
Goliath Barbarian 2/Totemist 1/Bar +2/Tot +2/Totem Rager 10/XX 3

STR 22
DEX 16
CON 19
INT 16
WIS 16
CHA 16

Bar 1: Power Attack, Cobalt Rage (flaw), Cobalt Charge (flaw)
Bar 2/Tot 1: Bonus Essentia
Bar 4/Tot 2: Leap Attack
Bar 4/Tot 3/TR 2: [open feat]
Bar 4/Tot 3/TR 5: [open feat]
Bar 4/Tot 3/TR 8: [open feat]
Bar 4/Tot 3/TR 10/XX 1: [open feat]

Is LA-buyoff allowed? The you could take the Feral template (Savage Species, page 115).

Take Double Chakra Bind (Totem Chakra) to bind two soulmelds to your Totem chakra.

Open Least/Lesser/Greater Chakra opens those chakras for soulmelds, with Shape Soulmeld you can bind additional soulmelds to your chakras.
For example, you take Open Greater Chakra (waist) and bind the Wormtail Belt to gain Awesome Blow.

Split Chakra is useful if you want to bind a soulmeld to a chakra that is already occupied by an magic item.
#8
maldur_dup
Aug 05, 2009 21:19:12 After consulting a few sources, I've decided to make this more focused on the incarnum part of the build. My build now looks like this:

Bar 2/Tot 4/TR 10/Tot 4

The feats should be relatively unchanged.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 maldur_dup Aug 04, 2009 2:17:09	Hello, CO boards! I'm building a goliath Barbarian/Bear Warrior. I'm using the goliath sub-level for Mountainous Rage, Skilled City dweller to get Tumble and Gather Information onto my skill list, and 2 flaws. I have access to all books and most magazines. On a related note, I have a question about Mountain Rage and Bear Form. Mountain Rage increases the Barbarian's size to large. Would it increase the size of the Bear Form as well? Any criticism and/or input will be appreciated.
#2 cru Aug 04, 2009 3:09:32	Bear form is based on polymorph. If I read this correctly, polymorph makes you lose your original race's abilities (powerful build). You'd retain your class abilities (get large in rage) though. RoS: Goliath Barbarian: When he rages, his size category increases to Large. CW: As normal for polymorph, the bear warrior gains the bear form’s physical qualities (including size, ...) CW: ability score bonuses granted by rage or frenzy are replaced by Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution bonuses appropriate to the bear form taken Normal black bear form is medium, gaining 8 Str, 2 Dex, 4 Con. Your black bear form should be large, gaining the same stats (no extra +2 Str). Brown bears and dire bears are both large. You won't have powerful build and your size will not increase. Brown and dire bear forms grant the same bonuses to goliath and non-goliath.
#3 maldur_dup Aug 04, 2009 3:57:40	Thanks for the reply. If what you said is true (and it looks like it is) then maybe bear warrior isn't the way to go for this character. Instead, I could use another PrC that I've been wanting to try: the Totem Rager. Granted, this would be my first step into incarnum, though I've read it over a few times. Would this be a better choice than Bear Warrior?
#4 dragonson Aug 04, 2009 11:18:53	Bear Warrior is a good PrC for Barbarians, but if you want to stay Large, with Powerful Build, then it probably isn't the way to go. Totem Rager would probably net you a bit more versatility in combat (thanks to the wide variety of Totemist soulmelds). Is there a particular focus for your character (tripping, grappling, etc.)? Since there are several soulmelds that enhance abilities like those... Girallon Arms for grappling, Worg Pelt with Behir Gorget or Ankheg Breastplate for tripping... If you go that route, you should also decide whether you want to focus more on the Barbarian or the Totemist (Double Totem Bind is fun). What is your current state (level, ability scores, feats)? The more we know, the more we can help.
#5 maldur_dup Aug 04, 2009 13:57:20	I'll be starting at lvl 1. I was originally planning to stick with Barbarian, but I'd have to agree, totemist does look fun. Ability scores were rolled, and mine were pretty darn good. Here they are with racial bonuses: STR 22 DEX 16 CON 19 INT 16 WIS 16 CHA 16 As for feats, the only one that is really set in stone is Power Attack. Well, that and Cobalt Rage, for Totem Rager. That leaves one more feat at level 1, thanks to flaws. Originally, I was planning on a charging build, but that can be changed. I think I'd have to look over the Totemist soulmelds more before I decide on what exactly I'll be doing.
#6 maldur_dup Aug 05, 2009 2:16:51	Ok, here's my build so far, using the Mountain Rage sub-level and 2 flaws. Its not much yet, but at least i've got something. Goliath Barbarian 2/Totemist 1/Bar +2/Tot +2/Totem Rager 10/XX 3 Bar 1: Power Attack, Cobalt Rage (flaw), Cobalt Charge (flaw) Bar 2/Tot 1: Bonus Essentia Bar 4/Tot 2: Leap Attack Bar 4/Tot 3/TR 2: [open feat] Bar 4/Tot 3/TR 5: [open feat] Bar 4/Tot 3/TR 8: [open feat] Bar 4/Tot 3/TR 10/XX 1: [open feat]
#7 Koenig Aug 05, 2009 3:05:51	Goliath Barbarian 2/Totemist 1/Bar +2/Tot +2/Totem Rager 10/XX 3 STR 22 DEX 16 CON 19 INT 16 WIS 16 CHA 16 Bar 1: Power Attack, Cobalt Rage (flaw), Cobalt Charge (flaw) Bar 2/Tot 1: Bonus Essentia Bar 4/Tot 2: Leap Attack Bar 4/Tot 3/TR 2: [open feat] Bar 4/Tot 3/TR 5: [open feat] Bar 4/Tot 3/TR 8: [open feat] Bar 4/Tot 3/TR 10/XX 1: [open feat] Is LA-buyoff allowed? The you could take the Feral template (Savage Species, page 115). Take Double Chakra Bind (Totem Chakra) to bind two soulmelds to your Totem chakra. Open Least/Lesser/Greater Chakra opens those chakras for soulmelds, with Shape Soulmeld you can bind additional soulmelds to your chakras. For example, you take Open Greater Chakra (waist) and bind the Wormtail Belt to gain Awesome Blow. Split Chakra is useful if you want to bind a soulmeld to a chakra that is already occupied by an magic item.
#8 maldur_dup Aug 05, 2009 21:19:12	After consulting a few sources, I've decided to make this more focused on the incarnum part of the build. My build now looks like this: Bar 2/Tot 4/TR 10/Tot 4 The feats should be relatively unchanged.